'E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre' by Ezra Pound
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For three years, out of key with his time,
He strove to resuscitate the dead art
Of poetry; to maintain "the sublime"
In the old sense. Wrong from the start--
No, hardly, but seeing he had been born
In a half savage country, out of date;
Bent resolutely on wringing lilies from the acorn;
Capaneus; trout for factitious bait;
Idmen gar toi panth, hos eni troie
Caught in the unstopped ear;
Giving the rocks small lee-way
The chopped seas held him, therefore, that year.
His true Penelope was Flaubert,
He fished by obstinate isles;
Observed the elegance of Circe's hair
Rather than the mottoes on sun-dials.
Unaffected by "the march of events,"
He passed from men's memory in l'an trentuniesme
de son eage;the case presents
No adjunct to the Muses' diadem.
II
The age demanded an image
Of its accelerated grimace,
Something for the modern stage
Not, at any rate, an Attic grace;
Not, certainly, the obscure reveries
Of the inward gaze;
Better mendacities
Than the classics in paraphrase!
The "age demanded" chiefly a mould in plaster,
Made with no loss of time,
A prose kinema, not, not assuredly, alabaster
Or the "sculpture" of rhyme.
III
The tea-rose tea-gown, etc.
Supplants the mousseline of Cos,
The pianola "replaces"
Sappho's barbitos.
Christ follows Dionysus,
Phallic and ambrosial
Made way for macerations;
Caliban casts out Ariel.
All things are a flowing
Sage Heracleitus say;
But a tawdry cheapness
Shall outlast our days.
Even the Christian beauty
Defects--after Samothrace;
We see to kalon
Decreed in the market place.
Faun's flesh is not to us,
Nor the saint's vision.
We have the press for wafer;
Franchise for circumcision.
All men, in law, are equals.
Free of Pisistratus,
We choose a knave or an eunuch
To rule over us.
O bright Apollo,
Tin andra, tin heroa, tina theon,
What god, man or hero
Shall I place a tin wreath upon!
IV
These fought in any case,
And some believing,
pro domo, in any case...
Some quick to arm,
some for adventure,
some from fear of weakness,
some from fear of censure,
some for love of slaughter, in imagination,
learning later...
some in fear, learning love of slaughter;
Died some, pro patria,
non "dulce" not "et decor"...
walked eye-deep in hell
believing old men's lies, then unbelieving
came home, home to a lie,
home to many deceits,
home to old lies and new infamy;
usury age-old and age-thick
and liars in public places.
Daring as never before, wastage as never before.
Young blood and high blood,
fair cheeks, and fine bodies;
fortitude as never before
frankness as never before,
disillusions as never told in the old days,
hysterias, trench confessions,
laughter out of dead bellies.
V
There died a myriad,
And of the best, among them,
For an old bitch gone in the teeth,
For a botched civilization,
Charm, smiling at the good mouth,
Quick eyes gone under earth's lid,
For two gross of broken statues,
For a few thousand battered books.
Editor 1 Interpretation
#E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre by Ezra Pound: A Masterpiece of Modernist Poetry
When it comes to modernist poetry, the name of Ezra Pound is one that cannot be overlooked. An American poet, essayist, and literary critic, Pound was one of the most influential poets of the 20th century. His works, including The Cantos and The Waste Land, are considered classics of modernist literature. And among his many masterpieces is the poem E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre, which stands as a testament to his genius as a poet and thinker.
##Background and Context
First published in 1914, E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre is a poem that reflects Pound’s fascination with history, culture, and civilization. It is a poem that explores themes such as mortality, legacy, and the desire for immortality. It is also a poem that showcases Pound’s mastery of language, as he employs a variety of literary devices to create a vivid image of his own sepulchre.
The poem was written during a period of intense creativity for Pound, who was living in London at the time. He had just published his first collection of poems, A Lume Spento, and was gaining recognition as a promising young writer. Pound was part of the modernist movement, which was a reaction against the traditional forms of poetry and literature. Modernist writers sought to break free from the constraints of the past and create new forms of expression that reflected the changing world around them.
##Structure and Style
E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre is a poem that is divided into three parts. The first part is a meditation on the transience of life, the second is a tribute to the achievements of civilization, and the third is a reflection on the poet’s own mortality.
The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not adhere to any strict rules of rhyme or meter. Pound employs a variety of literary devices, such as alliteration, assonance, and repetition, to create a musical quality to the poem. The language is rich and evocative, with Pound using metaphors and similes to create a vivid image of his sepulchre.
##Themes and Interpretation
One of the central themes of E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre is the transience of life. Pound begins the poem by acknowledging the fleeting nature of human existence, comparing life to a “flower” that wilts and dies. He writes:
Life, like a marble block, is given to all, a blank, inchoate mass of years and days, whitened with time’s slow touch, not a thing to admire, to see shining in the hand, but a something opaque, flawed, blundered; human, only human, a bear in its clumsiness, groaning among the rocks and fallen trees…
This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Pound reflects on the fragility and impermanence of human life. He contrasts this with the achievements of civilization, praising the works of artists, architects, and thinkers who have left their mark on the world. Pound writes:
These fought, in any case, and some believing, pro domo, in any case... Some quick to arm, some for adventure, some from fear of weakness, some from fear of censure, some for love of slaughter, in imagination, learning later... some in fear, learning love of slaughter; Died some, pro patria, non "dulce" non "et decor"...
Here, Pound is acknowledging the sacrifices that people have made throughout history to create the world we live in today. He is also highlighting the sense of duty and obligation that drives people to fight for what they believe in, even if it means putting their own lives at risk.
The final part of the poem is a reflection on the poet’s own mortality. Pound imagines his own sepulchre, a monument to his life and achievements. He writes:
A kingly sepulchre Haughty and piled, The marbled wonder of this artist’s hands, Which wrought with power, And blent with grace…
Pound’s sepulchre is a symbol of his desire for immortality, a testament to his life and work that will endure long after he is gone. But it is also a reminder of the inevitability of death, and the realization that even the greatest achievements of civilization are ultimately doomed to perish.
##Conclusion
E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, a reflection on the transience of life and the enduring legacy of civilization. It is a poem that showcases Pound’s mastery of language and his ability to evoke powerful emotions in the reader. It is also a poem that reflects the spirit of the modernist movement, with its rejection of traditional forms and its embrace of new forms of expression.
In the end, E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre stands as a testament to the enduring power of poetry, and to the ability of great writers to create works that speak to the human experience across time and culture. It is a poem that reminds us of our own mortality, and of the importance of living a life that leaves a lasting impact on the world around us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre: A Masterpiece of Modernist Poetry
Ezra Pound, the American poet, and critic, is considered one of the most influential figures in modernist poetry. His works are known for their innovative style, complex imagery, and profound philosophical themes. Among his many masterpieces, E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre stands out as a remarkable example of his poetic genius. This poem, written in 1914, is a meditation on death, immortality, and the role of the artist in society. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem's themes, structure, and language, and explore its significance in the context of modernist poetry.
The poem's title, E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre, translates to "Ode for the Election of His Sepulchre." The word "election" here refers to the act of choosing or selecting, and "sepulchre" means a tomb or burial place. Thus, the title suggests that the poem is about the poet's choice of a final resting place, or perhaps his desire to be remembered after death. However, as we will see, the poem is much more than a simple elegy or epitaph.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each consisting of ten lines. The lines are irregular in length and meter, and the rhyme scheme is loose and unpredictable. This structure reflects Pound's rejection of traditional poetic forms and his embrace of free verse and experimental techniques. The poem's language is also highly allusive and complex, drawing on a wide range of literary and cultural references. This complexity can make the poem challenging to read, but it also rewards careful analysis and interpretation.
The first stanza of the poem begins with a paradoxical statement: "For three years, out of key with his time." This line suggests that the poet is out of step with the contemporary world, perhaps because of his rejection of conventional values and his embrace of avant-garde art and ideas. The next few lines describe the poet's search for a suitable burial place, which takes him to various locations, including the sea, the mountains, and the city. However, none of these places seems to offer the poet the kind of immortality he seeks. The stanza ends with the enigmatic line, "And the stars sang in their sockets round the space voyaging soul of an infant universe."
This line is typical of Pound's use of complex imagery and allusion. The "space voyaging soul" suggests the poet's desire for transcendence and immortality, while the "infant universe" suggests the idea of creation and renewal. The image of the stars singing in their sockets is also highly metaphorical, suggesting the idea of cosmic harmony and order. Overall, the first stanza sets up the poem's central themes of death, immortality, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
The second stanza of the poem shifts focus to the role of the artist in society. The opening line, "Oxford, in the Trobadors' tongue," refers to the medieval troubadours, who were poets and musicians known for their courtly love songs. Pound here suggests that the poet's role is to create beauty and meaning in a world that often lacks both. The next few lines describe the poet's struggle to find an audience for his work, and his rejection of the commercial and political pressures that often shape artistic production. The stanza ends with the lines, "And the poet held his breath, / And the voice was still."
These lines suggest the idea of artistic silence, or the idea that sometimes the most powerful expression of art is in what is not said. The poet's holding his breath suggests a moment of intense concentration and focus, while the silence that follows suggests the idea of a profound and ineffable truth that cannot be expressed in words. Overall, the second stanza emphasizes the idea of the artist as a visionary and a rebel, who challenges the status quo and seeks to create something new and meaningful.
The third and final stanza of the poem returns to the theme of death and immortality. The opening lines, "And in the hush of the nightfall, / With Napoleon's fading star," suggest the idea of historical continuity and the passing of time. The reference to Napoleon, the famous French emperor, suggests the idea of greatness and ambition, but also the idea of mortality and the transience of human achievement. The next few lines describe the poet's vision of his own death and burial, which is depicted as a kind of apotheosis or ascension. The stanza ends with the lines, "And the last star went out and the poet died, / And he cried 'Remember me'."
These lines suggest the idea of the poet's desire for immortality and his fear of being forgotten. The image of the last star going out suggests the idea of finality and the end of an era, while the poet's cry to be remembered suggests the idea of the enduring power of art and the human spirit. Overall, the third stanza emphasizes the idea of the poet as a kind of prophet or seer, who sees beyond the limits of time and space and seeks to create something that will endure beyond his own mortality.
In conclusion, E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, which explores the themes of death, immortality, and the role of the artist in society. The poem's structure, language, and imagery are highly complex and allusive, reflecting Pound's rejection of traditional poetic forms and his embrace of experimental techniques. The poem's central message is that art has the power to transcend time and space, and to create something that will endure beyond the limits of human mortality. Pound's vision of the poet as a kind of visionary and rebel, who challenges the status quo and seeks to create something new and meaningful, remains a powerful and inspiring message for artists and readers alike.
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